Clean-air getaways near Mississauga

Haliburton

~2 h 50 min drive · AQI 87 · Moderate · PM2.5 2.1 µg/m³

▼ 34.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

AQHI 3 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Highlands village surrounded by hundreds of lakes and a large cottage-rental market.

Bracebridge

~2 h 30 min drive · AQI 97 · Moderate · PM2.5 3.4 µg/m³

▼ 32.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

AQHI 3 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Waterfall town in the heart of Muskoka with a deep bench of cottages and resorts.

Huntsville

~3 h drive · AQI 97 · Moderate · PM2.5 3.4 µg/m³

▼ 32.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

AQHI 3 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Muskoka’s biggest town, ringed by lakes and resorts on the edge of Algonquin Park.

Gravenhurst

~2 h 15 min drive · AQI 103 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 7.5 µg/m³

▼ 28.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Gateway to Muskoka on Lake Muskoka’s steamship wharf, the closest cottage country to the GTA.

Bobcaygeon

~2 h 5 min drive · AQI 103 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 10.1 µg/m³

▼ 26.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

AQHI 6 — Moderate risk (Peterborough station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Kawartha canal town spread across three islands between Pigeon and Sturgeon lakes.

Fenelon Falls

~1 h 55 min drive · AQI 104 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 11.8 µg/m³

▼ 24.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

The “Jewel of the Kawarthas,” a falls-side village on the Trent–Severn Waterway.

Parry Sound

~3 h drive · AQI 105 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 12.6 µg/m³

▼ 23.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

AQHI 3 — Low risk (Parry Sound station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Deep-water port on Georgian Bay’s island-studded coast, with open-bay air off the sound.

Orillia

~1 h 45 min drive · AQI 103 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 15.4 µg/m³

▼ 20.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

AQHI 4 — Moderate risk (Barrie station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Sunshine City between Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe, with a full range of waterfront stays.

Cobourg

~1 h 55 min drive · AQI 101 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 16.8 µg/m³

▼ 19.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Victorian lakefront town with a long sandy beach an easy hop east of the GTA.

Wasaga Beach

~1 h 40 min drive · AQI 99 · Moderate · PM2.5 20.1 µg/m³

▼ 16.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

AQHI 4 — Moderate risk (Barrie station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

The world’s longest freshwater beach, with open Nottawasaga Bay air along the whole strip.

Collingwood

~1 h 40 min drive · AQI 96 · Moderate · PM2.5 23.3 µg/m³

▼ 12.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Georgian Bay harbour town at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, with bay breezes and plenty of hotels and rentals.

The Blue Mountains

~1 h 50 min drive · AQI 96 · Moderate · PM2.5 23.3 µg/m³

▼ 12.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Resort village on Georgian Bay with escarpment elevation, a walkable pedestrian base and year-round lodging.

Midland

~2 h drive · AQI 110 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 25.3 µg/m³

▼ 10.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Mississauga right now

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Harbour town on Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands shore, with bay cruises and shoreline trails.

Sauble Beach

~2 h 40 min drive · AQI 100 · Moderate · PM2.5 37 µg/m³

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

11 km of sandy Lake Huron shoreline where westerly lake winds usually keep the air moving.

Port Dover

~1 h 30 min drive · AQI 96 · Moderate · PM2.5 37.6 µg/m³

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Lake Erie beach town with a palm-tree pier vibe and steady south-shore lake air.

Turkey Point

~1 h 45 min drive · AQI 96 · Moderate · PM2.5 37.6 µg/m³

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Low-key Lake Erie cottage beach beside marshes and vineyards, far from major highways.

Port Stanley

~2 h 30 min drive · AQI 99 · Moderate · PM2.5 38.9 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Port Stanley station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Lake Erie fishing village turned beach town, with open-water air on the province’s south shore.

Elora

~1 h drive · AQI 99 · Moderate · PM2.5 39.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Guelph station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Limestone village above the Elora Gorge, with a boutique mill hotel and quarry swimming.

St. Jacobs

~1 h 5 min drive · AQI 99 · Moderate · PM2.5 39.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Kitchener station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Mennonite-country village and market just outside Waterloo, an easy countryside reset.

Port Elgin

~2 h 35 min drive · AQI 99 · Moderate · PM2.5 42.5 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Tiverton station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Sandy-beach base for the Saugeen Shores stretch of Lake Huron, with a full main street of services.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

~55 min drive · AQI 121 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 44 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 9 — High risk (St. Catharines station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Wine-country town where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, dense with inns and B&Bs.

Stratford

~1 h 40 min drive · AQI 99 · Moderate · PM2.5 44.5 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Festival town on the Avon River with a deep stock of inns and B&Bs.

Kincardine

~2 h 40 min drive · AQI 108 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 48.9 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Tiverton station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Lake Huron harbour town with a lighthouse, boardwalk beach and reliable evening lake breezes.

Bayfield

~2 h 30 min drive · AQI 112 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 51.1 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Grand Bend station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Quiet heritage village on the Lake Huron bluffs, a slower-paced alternative to the bigger beach towns.

Goderich

~2 h 35 min drive · AQI 112 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 51.1 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Lakeside county town on high Huron bluffs, often swept clear by west winds off the water.

Grand Bend

~2 h 40 min drive · AQI 113 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 52.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Mississauga

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Grand Bend station)

Observed Jul 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Classic Lake Huron beach town with famous sunsets and prevailing onshore winds off the open lake.